‘EU will respect decision of Britons on Brexit’

Brussels, Feb 24 (IANS) European Council President Donald Tusk said here on Wednesday the European Union (EU) would respect the decision of British people with regard to the country’s decision on whether or not to stay in the grouping.

Tusk made the remarks when making an opening statement at the plenary debate of European Parliament, saying “if the majority votes to leave, it will be so,” Xinhua reported.

Tusk added the EU-Britain deal was within treaties and could not be annulled by the European Court of Justice.

“Despite many difficulties, the leaders did not walk away from the negotiation table because we were fully aware of the stakes involved, namely keeping the UK in the EU and the future geopolitics of Europe,” he said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Saturday announced that Britain would hold a referendum on June 23 to allow people to come to a decision on Britain’s EU membership.

The announcement was made a day after British and EU leaders reached a deal on Britain’s “special status” in the bloc.